Radiant energy – Radiant energy generation and sources – Plural radiation sources
Patent
1997-06-04
1998-07-21
Nguyen, Kiet T.
Radiant energy
Radiant energy generation and sources
Plural radiation sources
2504941, 250504R, H05B 326
Patent
active
057838313
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device providing a radiation emitting source which provides emission from an extended area. Radiation emitting sources have been provided for such a purpose, for example, in a fluorescent tube, but this is rigid and fragile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with non-visible radiation of frequencies lower than visible radiation. It is an object of the invention to provide a lighting device which can be controlled to emit radiation which cannot be seen by the naked eye but which can be detected by detectors sensitive to the appropriate frequency of the radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,743 discloses apparatus for treating animal bodies with radiation of a selected frequency. Although this is for an entirely different purpose from the present invention, there is disclosed a tube which may be flexible and containing an array of broadband infrared diodes. The energization of the diodes is controlled in a manner suitable for treating the animal bodies. It is suggested that wavelengths of 632 and 905 nanometers can be used, since lasers are available at these wavelengths and it is also suggested that operation within a broadband centred at 880 nanometers could be useful. There is no suggestion of providing detectors for the emitted radiation, since the radiation is used to treat the animals carrying the apparatus. Similarly, there is no suggestion that the radiation emitted, even though it is in the infrared region, provides any heating effect from the diodes or any other separate source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of a radiation emitting device and a detector sensitive to the radiation emitted by the device, the device comprising a flexible tube containing a plurality of discrete infrared radiation emitting sources, the tube walls being translucent to the radiation emitted by the sources, and means to control the energization of the sources.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a radiation emitting device comprising a flexible tube containing a plurality of discrete infrared radiation emitting sources, the tube walls being translucent to the radiation emitted by the sources, and means to control the energization of the sources, the device further comprising means in addition to said sources for emitting heat radiation. This feature of the device may also be included in the combination of the preceding paragraph. The heat emitting means may comprise an elongated source extending along the tube between a plurality of said infrared radiation emitting sources.
The device in either aspect may comprise sources for emitting radiation of different wavelengths, the control means being arranged to control the source or sources of radiation of one wavelength independently of the source or sources of radiation of another wavelength. The source or sources of one wavelength may constitute the means for emitting heat radiation. The control means may be operable remote from the device, for example, at a remote location using electromagnetic radiation to transmit control signals to the device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGS. 1 to 5 are different embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a flexible tube containing a plurality of infrared emitting diodes in an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a flexible tube containing a plurality of infrared emitting diodes in another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of a flexible tube having infrared emitting diodes spaced uniformly along the interior of the tube.
FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a flexible tube having infrared emitting diodes in another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a flexible tube having infrared emitting diodes in another embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREF
REFERENCES:
patent: 4646743 (1987-03-01), Parris
patent: 4769527 (1988-09-01), Hart et al.
patent: 4922116 (1990-05-01), Grinberg et al.
patent: 5083034 (1992-01-01), Frank et al.
patent: 5247185 (1993-09-01), Herrera et al.
Colebrand Limited
Nguyen Kiet T.
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